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I have two of these cats in my 55 gallon planted tank. I was just wondering if I have a male and female becuase of some differences I have seen in them.

I got them at the same time and they were basically the same size. Now one has outgrown the other, gotten darker, and grown little hairy things on its fins and back. The other has grown but isnt as small and dark, or has no hairs to speak of.

Just wonderin what you all think?

Pics, please. Lack of odontodes does not necessarily make it a male.

Err, a female, I mean.

What kind of Loricarid is it? That might help, as some are easier to tell apart than others. Also, remember, pictures are worth a thousand words.

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It is a whiptail cat. And I dont have a camera.

According to a paper I checked, "Sexual dimorphism includes hypertrophied development of the pectoral spines, blunt odontodes on the pelvic and anal fin spines, and tooth crowns becoming shortened and rounded in mature males."

Anyway, I've never kept Loricaria, so I don't know if they're as territorial as some other loricariids, but if one is more dominant than the other, gets more food, or is picking on the other one, than that could cause a difference. That's a guess, though.

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The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

The way you described it, it sounds like the larger one is male. What do you mean by;

tooth crowns becoming shortened and rounded in mature males

Thanks.

Easiest way to tell, discounting odontodes is the lower lip fimbral protrusions, used by the male to carry his clutch.

Exucse lousy grammar at 4 am;

Easiest way to tell, discounting odontodes, is to check for lower lip fimbral protrusions, used by the male to carry his clutch.

Thanks for the help. But uhh what are lower lip fimbral protrusions?
I will look it up but just let me know.

The lower lip is larger and wider, and has finger like protrusions. These help secure the eggs, as the male carries his clutch with him.